Shield or cover plate for vehicle wheels



July 2, 1935.

H. J. HORN 2,006,639

SHIELD OR COVER PLATE FOR VEHICLE WHEELS Filed Jan. 21, 1932 F/QZ INVENTOR 1 /465)? f/vflE/X [-11 S A TTORNE Y Patented July 2, 1935 Y Harry J. Horn, Lansing, Mich., assignor to Motor Wheel Corporation, Lansing, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application January 21,1932, Serial No. 587,859

3 Claims.

One object of the invention is the provision of means for concealing the unsightlybody portion of a vehicle wheel and to eliminate the necessity for dressing up that part of the wheel to 5 present a finished appearance which will harmonize with the rest of the vehicle. Another object is the provision of improved means for securing the shield to the wheel. These objects are attained by securing the periphery of a suitably decorated and shaped shield or cover plate to the rim section of the wheel whereby all of the Working parts contained within the rim are concealed from view. Thus the working parts of the wheel assembly may be of such design as is best suited for the performance of 1 their allotted function without regard to appearance.

While it is intended that the shield or cover plate will be used only on that side of the vehicle v which is normally exposed to view a modification thereof might be used on the inner side of the wheel also. The shield is preferably formed with means about its periphery whereby it may be removably secured to the rim section of the wheel. This is required in order to permit the removal of the wheel from the-vehicle to which it is attached for replacement or repair.

An illustration of a specific form of apparatus embodying the invention is shown in the drawing forming a part of this specification, in which: s

Figure I is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle wheel equipped with a shield or cover plate and illustrating one method which may be used for securing the shield to the rim section of the wheel;

Figure II is a fragmentary sectional view of a vehicle wheel illustrating another method by which the shield may be secured to the rim section;

Figure III is a fragmentary sectional 'view of the rim portion of the wheel shown in Figure I illustrating in detail the means for securing the shield to the rim; and

Figure IV is a fragmentary sectional view of the rim portion of a wheel showing in detail the means illustrated in Figure 11 for securing the shield to the rim.

The wheel l0 embodying the invention is of 5 the disc type and consists of a rim section H,

a hub member l2 and means for operatively conmeeting the hub member to the rim section comprising a disc l3. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to this particular wheel but is applicable to any other type of wheel utilizing either a fixed or demountable rim member and embodying any of the conventional forms of wheel bodies. The rim section II is of the so-called drop center type having axially extending base portions and 5 substantially radially extending side wall portions which is adapted to receive a pneumatic tire directly thereon. The rim may be secured to the flanged periphery 14 of the disc I3 by rivets 9, as shown, or by any other suitable 0 means.

The disc I3 is provided with a central opening therethrough about which it is flanged as indicated at l5 and ii. The flanged portion I6 is provided with a plurality of bolt holes l1. 15 The disc is secured to the hub by means of a plurality of securing bolt and nut assemblies 19, the securing bolts extending through the openings l1 and similar openings provided for that purpose in the annular projection l8. Suit- 20 able openings are provided in the hub l2 for the reception of a conventional wheel axis in the usual manner.

It will be observed that the hub shell sometimes utilized in addition to the hub portion 25 proper of the conventional wheel has been dispensed with in the structure illustrated in Figure I. The unfinished appearance of the hub is not objectionable, however, since it is completely concealed from the outside of the wheel 30 by a shield 20. The shield 20 is preferably frusto conical 'in sape and is provided with a flanged portion 2| about the periphery thereof whereby it may be secured to the rim II.

The preferred method by which the shield 35 20 is removably secured to the rim is shown in Figure I wherein the rim section II is provided, about that portion 22 thereof which lies in a plane parallel to the axis of the wheel, with a plurality of spaced pairs of indentations 23 40 and the flanged periphery 2! of the shield 20 is provided with a plurality of leaf spring devices 24 adapted to cooperate with the indentations 23.

As best shown in Figure III, the spring de- 4 vices 24 consist of a short piece of resilient metal having a depressed central portion and which is provided with openings at its opposite extremities for the reception of a pair of buttons 25. The spring 24 is secured to the under side of the flanged periphery 2| by welding the flat central portion of the spring thereto. Openings 26 through which the buttons 25 project are formed in the flange 2|. The openings 26 are spaced about the periphery of the shield 20 so that they will register with the indentations 23 in the portion 22 of the rim ll.

When the shield 20 is properly positioned adjacent the rim II, it may be secured thereto by pressing it inwardly toward the rim whereupon the buttons are forced away from the flanged periphery of the shield against the tension of the spring 24 until they havepassed behind the indentations 23.- Once the buttons have been passed behind the indentations 23 they return to the position shown in Figures I and III and securely lock the shield 20 to the rim H. The shield may be removed readily by pressing the edge thereof outward whereby the buttons 25 are forced past the indentations An alternative method by which the shield 2|! may be secured to the rim II is shown in Figures II and IV. -As therein shown a plurality of retention devices 28 are secured by means f rivets 8 at intervals'about the base portion 21 of the rim ll. Each of the retention devices comprises a resilient strip of metal formed with a flat central portion and having its opposite extremities deflected outwardly and downwardly from the central portion. The extremities of the retention member 28 are provided with raised portions or projections 29. When the retention device 28 is utilized the periphery of the shield 20 is flanged as shown at 3| in Figure II. The shield is secured to the rim by pressing the edge of the flanged portion 3| over the top of the P jection 29, after which the projections spring back into their normal position and securely lock the shield to the rim. The shield is, of course, readily removed by pressing the edge thereof outwardly. I

In all cases the shield 20 will, of course, be

formed of a suitable size to properly fit within that portion of the rim II to which it is to be secured. The shield may be provided with a thereto but is coextensive with the scope o1 the appended claims. Y

I claim:

1. A vehicle wheel including in combination 10 a hub, a rim, a wheel body connecting the hub to the rim, a plurality of resilient strips of metal secured to the rim, each of said strips having its opp site ends offset forwardly and each end being provided with a projection thereon, a disklike shield, and means on the periphery of said shield adapted to be pressed into'interlocking engagement between said rim and said projections, whereby to removably attach said shield to said rim.

2. A vehicle wheel including in combination a rim, a plurality of resilient metal strips, each of said strips being secured intermediate its ends t said rim, the end portions of said strips being ofiset radially and forwardly and provided at their extremities with projections, and a shield having a peripheral flange adapted to be pressed into interlocking engagement behind said projections-and between said ofiset portions and said rim.

3. The combination with a wheel rim and a device for attaching the shield to the rim comprising a resilient strip f metal secured intermediate its ends to the rim, the opposite end portions of said strip being ofiset radially and forwardly with respect to the body of said strip and having projections at their extremities to provide substantially V-shaped seats for the reception of the peripheral flange of the shield.

' HARRY J. HORN. 

